Electrical system of distribution.



R. N: G HAMBIERLAIN 4ML. R. SHDD.' ELECTRICAL SYSTEM '0F QISTRIBUTI'N. ArPLIATIoN FILED D291?, 19oe. `nnNnwBn APB. 9, (1h09.

976,151, Patented Nov'. 22, 1910 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

RUFUS N. CHAMBERLAIN, OF`DEPEW, AND IMARCELLUSR. SHEDID, OF LANCASTER, yNILW YORK, ASSIGNORS TQ GOULD STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, .A CORPRATION 0F NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF DISTRIBUTION.

pacification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 22, 1910,

Application .iled 'December 17. 1906. Serial No. 348,126. Renewed April 9, 1909. Serial No. 488,978.

To'all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, RUFUS N. CHAMBER- LAIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Depew, in the county of Erie, State vof- New York, and MARoELLUs R. SHEDD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lancaster, in the county of Erie, State of .New Yorin have invented certain new and .useful Improvements in Electrical Systems of Distribution, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to electrical systems of distribution and has been speciallydevised with reference to systems for trainv lighting.

In the patent issued to RUrUsN. CHAM- BERLAIN, one of the presentapplicants, No. 771,710, dated October 4, 1904, 1s Ishown and described a system of train llighting of the general character of that herein shown.

Our invention involves improvements upon the system of said CHAMBERLAIN patent whereby. without departing from the generalv principles of the system covered by said patent, the system is made to operate with greater reliability and\the apparatus is Simnlitied. These featuresof improvement will appear in the course of the description hereinafter.

The drawing accompanying this specilication is a diagram of a specilic embodimen of our invention.

Generally speaking, the s vstern includes a generating plant carried-on some convenient point of the train, as, for example, the bags gage car, independent batteries on the various cars to be lighted'and automatic switch ing' devices whereby the lights on thevarious cars may be supplied from the generating plant while the battery may be charged at a higher voltage, or the generator may be` put out of operation, as for example, when the baggage cars are disconnected and the lights to each car may be supplied from the battery upon that car.

A represents a main generator comprising the prime source of electrical power for the system. This is indicated as being a compound wound lgenerator. Preferably this generator would berotated by a steam turb ine provided with steam from the locomotive, but it is immaterial what the prime mover may be.

B represents a booster armature which would ordinarily be orovide'd on the sainev car as the main generator A, as indicated in the drawing.

D is the motor mechanically connected to the booster B and drivingr the'same. This motor is simply connected across the'circuit and is indicated as having a compound winding, this being a feature of value but it is not a` part of this invention.

C is the armature of a counter machine for regulating the field B of the'boos'ter. This. armature isvin series with the booster iield' winding B in a circuit connected across the generator so that its voltage opposes that of ,the generator.

C varies in accordance with the current iout put of the generator since the field coil C" is in series with tliegenerator, there being an adjustable resistance C2 shunting the 'terminals of this coil. The counter machine C is Aalso driven by the motor D.. By this means the greatertheA current output of the generator thegreater is the electro-motive-force ofi the counter machine and therefore the less is the field strength of" fthe' booster, thus varying the electro-motive-orce oi the 'booster inversely as the current of the main generator changes. The particular arrangement of these machines and the method of regulating the booster voltage termina part of the present invention. I

. Extending throughout thetrain-is aconeratbr A, 4the connectionsbetweenthe different cars being indicated at la. From the *booster there extends throughout the train the conductor'Q, the connections between the dilerent cars being indicated at 2e. The. conductor 2-orms one sident a charging ductor 1 connected to one terminal, say the positive terminal, as indicated, oi' the gen- The electro-motivedorce of f thereof.

circuit, while the conductor 1 forms one side of the generator circuit. From the other terminal, say the negative terminal, of the generator' A is the conductor 3 which also extends throughout the train, the connections between the different cars being in dicated at 3a. rlhis conductor is connected by a loop flat the end of the train, or at that portion of it to be lighted electrically and this loop connects with the conductor l which extends throughoutthose cars that are to be lighted, being connected between cars by the connector el, the drawing showing only two cars to be lighted.

0n each car to be lighted is a storage battery 'E which is connected between the conductors 2 and 3. The lights on each` car are indicated at F, one terminal of the lighting circuit being connected to the conductor 4; and to one terminal of the battery. On each car is an automatic switch Gr having a switch lever g connected to the positive terminal of the lighting circuit and fixed contacts g and g2 which are respectively connected to the positive terminal of thel ba ly and to the conductor 1 of the generator circuit. then these switches are in their lower position, as shown, the work circu..t F is connected to the battery so as to be supplied with the discharging cur-rent `When the switch is at the upper position with the lever g engaging contact' f/Z the lights are connected to the generator circuit and supplied thereby, while the battery is no longer connected with the lights. The various switches G each have a coil G by` which they are connected, these coils being in series with the conductor f5 being the return portion of the loop coirluctor.

At Il is indicated a main line switch on the particular train unit upon which the generating station is carried. This switch serves to open and to close the main line. It has a coil L connected across the geirerator, being connected to conductors 1 and 3. It. also has a series or current coil /L connected in the conductor 3 so as to have a current corresponding with that of the generator. The function of this switch is to automatically close the circuit from the generator to the various cars when the'voltage of the generator, after the same has been started up, has reached the proper value for supplying the lamps. The function of the coil it is to cause the switch to open when the battery voltage has risen sufficiently to cause a reversal of current. This reversal occurs if the l attery tends to flow back to the main'generator, in which case the current in returning to the negative side 'of th 1 battery will pass in an opposite direction through coil It to that which it takes when i the current is returning to the generator.

rlhe principal points of difference between nected directly across the generator circni at all times, whereas in our present system the work circuit is shifted from the battery to the generator circuit, the battery being connected to the charging circuit at all times. This enables the switches Gr to be actuated automatically by current coils without involving the necessity for the use of shunt coils, because if before the generator voltage had risen, and before the closing of the switch H the battery is connected directly to the generator ci! cuit, there is no certainty that sutlicient current will How in such coils Gr as will cause the switch to be actuated. Moreover, this change in the arrangement of the switch with the connection of the battery across the charging circuit prevents thechattering of the switch l'l. In prior systems of this character it has been found that frequently if the switch H l1as been thrown up on the shunt coil It a reverse current will tlow because the battery is at a higher voltage than that' of the generator. This reverse current will canse the switch Il to open but the moment that it is opened the shunt coil, acting alone,\\`vill again close it, this being continued indefinitely, By our invention this chattering is prevented because there is no danger of the battery feeding back against the higher voltage of the charging circuit and, therefore, as soon as the switch H is closed and the switches Gr are thereafter closed the system will be maintained in operation, the-lamps across the generator circuit andthe battery across the charging circuit, until the generator -eur-v rent fails. This failure may occur either because the operator has shut down the generating plant or because the circuit has been opened, as, for example, when it is desired to add another car to the train, or when so many lights have been turned off and the charging of the battery has continued so long that it is no longerdesirable to operate the generator. Another advantage of being enabled to eliminate the shunt coil for actuating the switches G is that there is no danger that the switches will be maintained in their upper position when the generator circuit becomes opened, as would occur when the loop f is removed to add a new car to the train. Vith the switches (if actuated only by a current coil in the generator cirl with a shunt coil even though the generator current fails, the switch might be held in its up position where the lamps w'ould receiveno current either from the generator circuit or the battery circuit. It will be understood that particular details of construction of these various switches is not material to our present invention. We have indicated one simple form oi. switch,but the essential feature residesin the capacity of the switch to shift the work circuit from the battery to the generator. l

It will be' understood that while we have described the above system in connection with a train lighting system for .which it is peculiarly adapted, yet we do not intend to limit ourselves specifically to this particular hind of system.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I# l. In an electrical system of distribution, a generator and generator circuit, a booster in series with the generatorand a charging circuitleading from the booster, a pluralit oi batteries and work circuits, a correspon ing plurality of switches each having a position connecting the work circuit and gen erator circuit and another position connect-l ing the workv circuit` -withits battery, and means controlled by the current stren h of the generator for actuating said switc ies.

2. In -an electrical system of distribution, a generator and generator circuit, a booster in series with the generator and a'cliarging circuit leading from the booster, a plurali'y of batteries and work circuits, a correspon ing plurality of switches each having a position connecting the work circuit'andgenl erator circuit and another position connecting the work circuit with its-,battery and coils responsive to variationsin the generator current for `actuating `said switches.

3. The combination of a generator,.a generator circuit, a charging-circuit, a plurality of batteries and work circuits, switches 4for connecting each work circuit either .with a battery or with the generator circuit, connections independent of said 'switches 'from each battery to the charging circuit, and coils connected to receive a current strength corresponding to that ofv the main generator controlling theaction of said switches.

4. In a system of-electrical di tribution t'or trains, a generating station en 'I ne of the train units, batteries and work circuits on other train units, two conductors leading from the generator to the various'prain units and adapted to have different potentials, a loop return conductor extending through the various train units, switches on t e various `other train unit, one Aconductor bein train units determining the connection of the various batteries and work circuits, the

-actuation of said switches being governed solely by coils in said, loop conductor.

5. In a system of electrical distribution for trains, a generator onvone train unit, batteries and work circuits on' other train units, conductors leading throu h the train from the generator, one of sai conductors being a loop, a switch 'for each battery and work circuit, and coils fully controlling and actuating said switches connected in said loop conductor.

6. Ina system of electrical distribution for trains, a generator on one of the train units, conductors leadingtherefrom to anranged as a loop, a battery, a work circuit n and a switch connecting the` work circuit with the battery when in one position and connecting the work circuit with one of said conductors when in another position2 and v n a means for actuating said switch todisconnect the generator and Work circuits and op eratively connect the batte and consumption circuit upon failure o current in the loop conductor. Y

7. In Aa systeinof electrical distribution for trains, a generator on one train unit, a

.battery ,and work circuit on another train unit, a generator circuitand charging circuit extending between the train units, an automatically acting switch arranged to connect one terminal of the work circuit either to one terminal of the battery orto one side of the generator circuit and electromagnetic means for operating said switch responsive to fluctuations. in the generatorload.

8. In a system of electricaldistribution for trains, a generator on one train unit, a battery, work circuit and switch on another train unit, a generator circuit and charging circuit extending between the train units, a switch" arranged to connect one terminal 'of the work. circuit either to one terminal of the battery or to one side 'of the generator circuit, a conductor common to both the generator and charging circuits, and a coil in said conductor arranged to actuate said switch.

9.l In an electrical system of distribution, a generator, a generator circuit and a charging circuit connected to the generator, av

vwork circuit, a battery connected across the charging circuit and maintained out of the generator circuit, a switch adapted to connect the work circuit either to thebattery or .to the generator circuit, a switch arranged t'o open the charging circuit upon reverse current from the battery to the generator vand a coil carrying said reverse current for actuating said last mentioned switch.

10. In an electrical system of distribution, a generator, a generator circuit and a charg- 11. In an electrical system of distribution,

a generator, a generator circuit'land a charginv circuit connected to the generator, a plurality of work circuits, a corresponding plurality of batteries and, of switches each ar- -ranged to connect a work circuit with one of the batteries or across the generator circuit, and single coils for actuating each of said switches, said coils being in series in the generator circuit.. l

1i). In an electrical system of distribution, a generator, a generator circuit and a charging circuit connected to the generator@ plurality oi work circuits, a correspondingplurality of batteries and of switches each arranged to connect a work circuit with one of the batteries or across the generator circuit, a single coil for actuating each of said switches, said coils being in series with the generator, and connections independent of said switches placing each battery7 across the charging circuit.

13. In an electrical system of distribution, a generator, a generator circuit and a charg ing circuit connected to the generator, a plurality of work circuits, a corresponding plurality of batteries and of switches each arranged to cnnecta work circuit with one ot' the. batteries or across the generator circuit, a single coil for actuating each of said switches, said coils being in series with the generator, connections inf'lcpendent ot' said switches placing each battery across the charging circuit, and a mainswitch whose contacts are in series with said coils.

11i. ln an electnical system of distribution,

a generator, a generator circuit and a chargtol ing circuit connected tothe generator, a plurality of work circuits, a corresponding plurality of batteries and ot' switches each arranged to connect a work circuit with one of the batteries or across the generator circlit,

a single coil for actuating cach of .said switches, said coilsI being in series with the generator, connections independent of said switches placing each battery across the charging circuit, a main switch whose 'contacts are in series with said coils, and means for opening said switch upon passage ot' current from the bat-teryto the generator.

15. AA generator, a generator circuit and a charging circuit leading therefrom, means tor giving said circuits diiiierent electromotive-orces, a battery connected across the charging circuit, a work circuit, a switch arranged to connect the work circuit either with the generator circuit or the battery, a coil for actuating said switch responsive to changes of generator current, a main switch between the generator and battery', a voltage coil for actuating said switch, and a coil for said switch in series with the generator and battery and wound to oppose the Voltage coil when current iiows from the battery to the generator.

1G. The combination of a generator, batteries, work circuits, a switch for connecting each work circuit toits battery, a conductor connecting the various work circuits with the generator, and coils in series in said conductor forming the sole electrical means for ,f governing the various switches.

17. In an electrical system oi distribution, a source of electro-motive torce, a plurality ,of batteries a'nd work circuits, a charging conductor tor the batteries, a feeding conductorfor the work circuits, and means for connecting the work circuits to the feeding conductor responsive to certain current variations in the system as Vdistinguished from voltage variations therein.

18. In an electrical system of distribution, a source of electrosmotive torce, a plurality of batteries and work circuits, a charging conductor for the batteries, a feeding conductor, for the work circuits, switches for controlling the connections between the various batteries, work circuits and conductors, and coils actingl to maintain said switches closed, said coils being responsive to current changes et the system as distinguished from voltage changes thereof.

19. In an electrical system -ot distribution, a source of electro-niotive force, a plurality of train units, a work circuit and battery on each unit, a charging circuit extending through the various units for conveying the charging current from the source to the various batteries, a consumption circuit extendingl through the Various units for conyeying current troni the source to the various work circuits, switches tor determining the connection between cach battery and the various circuits, and coils in series with the batteries for operating said switchesl said coils being responsive to current changes oi the system as distinguished from voltage changes thereof. so that the batteries will be fed by the -charging circuit Iand the work circuits by the consumption circuit.

Q0. ln au electrical system ot distribution, a source ot' electro-motive torce, a plurality of train units. a work circuit and battery on each unit. a charging circuit extending through (he variousl units for conveying the charging 'ai-rent trom the source to the various batteries, a consumption circuit extending through the various'units for conveyng current from the soute@ to the Various l En testimony whereof7 we have sgne out* Work comte9 swltehee for. determining the names to thls specxoetlonj 1h the ptesenee connection between each battery and the of two subsorlbmg Witnesses.

HHOUS CTCUS, Mld COlS Sting Hltk v RUFxUS N Ct/BEQLN 5 tem Saud ewltohee dosed, said colle beleg MA CELLUS SHED@ connected in. series; with the batteries and responsive to current changes of the system as distinguished from voltage changes thereof. so that the batteries will be fed hy the te ehergng circuit and the Work circuits by the consumption circuit in accordance with the output of the generator.

Witnesses es to Chamberlain:

EDWIN Seem. ANNA DALY. I Witnesses as to Shedd:

D W. ToMLlNsoN, JF., H. M. IIWJ'LN.

Ic.; t

Q5 it ie hereby eertiled that in Letters P'etent No. 976,151., granted Novehthei` 22, 1910, upon the application of Rufus N. Clmmberlan, o Depew, and Merceus Shedd, ot Lzmoestev, New York, for an improvement in Eeetieet Systeme ot' D-stx'ihutionfen er1-or appears in thepx'inted epeoieation requiring' eoeotoh as follows: Page 2. linet, the xet'erence-numeral S ehoud reedll, end that the 99 f Seid Lettele Patent should be read with the correction therein that the same mw;

@D eontofut to the record of the cese in the Patent @thee C21 l Signed. end sealed this 3d dey of January, A. L., 19M.

c; [SEAL] E. E. MOU PST 

